UFC Austin: Adrian Yanez Returns Home

Ebb and flow was the fitting theme of the show when Adrian Yanez clashed with Davey Grant in his last outing, and although the fight was an absolute barnburner from bell to bell, there was a reason why Yanez refused to be denied on the night. It was his promise to his late father that he would never fold under pressure.

If you asked, who was Andreas Yanez? His loved ones, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, a man’s man, would be the first thing said about the late Andreas, mainly for the positive, contagious energy he carried.

Following Andreas’s passing in 2016 due to an ongoing battle with stage 4 cancer, his wisdom and energy transferred into a young man who made him a promise, his son, UFC rising star Adrian Yanez.

Adrian dropped jaws worldwide in his spectacular knockout on Dana White’s contender series, earning himself a nickname by the bossman, labelling him as “A Sniper.”

Most importantly, Yanez left the UFC Apex that night with a UFC contract in his hand. However, Adrian’s joy wouldn’t have been completed unless he took the contract to the place where the closest soul to his heart laid at.

While contemplating taking his UFC contract to his dad’s gravesite, Yanez was overwhelmed with emotions of fear and anxiousness, but a soothing memory attached with a voice brought calmness to the 26-year-old.

It was a quote from his father, “Family is everything.” And fear was no more. So Yanez headed to his father’s gravesite with his family by his side, fueled with gratitude in their hearts.

They say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and in the case of Yanez, it couldn’t be more accurate. While millions worldwide were in awe of Adrian’s phenomenal striking skills and poise inside the octagon, his hero and father, Andreas, was an exceptional Boxer in his own right, with three Golden Glove trophies to prove it.

The late Andreas Yanez was a fighter, not by choice but by heart. Dedicating years of serving in the bravest occupation of all as a Marine. With the trauma that haunts most individuals after leaving the army, Andreas was faced with another battle in the form of addiction.

Eventually, being a fighter at heart helped him to overcome that battle. However, the drive to do it was so pure yet potent. It was simple, his family.

It takes a remarkable man to overcome such overwhelming hardships consecutively, which speaks to the character of Adrian’s father whom he draws inspiration from throughout his journey.

While driving his son to practice, both men enjoyed their truck talk, dreaming about the future and glory Adrian was envisioning early on. And in moments where doubt kicked in for the young dreamer, his father used to always wake him up with reassurance and faith by telling him, “People will say you can’t, even you might say to yourself that you can’t do it, so remember to always use it as a fuel to prove you can.”

Yanez walks every step on the road towards greatness with those words echoing in his mind, reassuring him that he is indeed destined to achieve everything he and his father talked about years before what the world is currently witnessing.

Many fighters reach the pinnacle of the sport purely with their cerebral skillsets alongside a championship mindset. However, there’s something to be said about a fighter’s journey that revolves around fulfiling a promise to a loved soul, driving the individual’s purpose with unparalleled passion and perseverance regardless of what’s in store on the other side. In simpler words, it just feels like inevitable destiny towards greatness.

Ten years ago, Adrian was having the usual truck talk with his pops after training. They took the 45 Scott exit to be instantly met with the big, red, iconic Toyota Center letters, Leaving both men marvelling at its beauty.

“Dad, I’m going to fight there one day for the UFC,” the young dreamer said. His dad replied, “I know you will. Just stay consistent, calm and composed, and you’ll get there.”

That promise is about to be fulfilled when Yanez fights Tony Kelley in his hometown. However, the one that holds the most value for Yanez is when he promised his dad that he would become a champion before it’s all set and done.

And While Adrian’s first attempt at securing a belt in LFA didn’t work, the pattern of his career is showing slowly but surely that it’s leading towards fulfilling that promise in the place where it matters the most, the UFC.

With Adrian’s marvellous performance over Grant, I couldn’t help but think of Adrian’s father, Andreas. With him(Andreas) being a Marine, composure is a necessity when it comes to facing danger. Being in the midst of the battlefield, maintaining composure is the most crucial part while being under the fire, which is precisely what Yanez showed in the fight.

“My Dad wasn’t the greatest example before getting sober, but the greatest example that he did was giving everything up for the people he loved and, through it all, keeping his promise.”